Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 21091, John Fales, R.I.

SERVICE
NUMBER
R I
Fales, John Martha
W. 21091
CONTENTS

R. Island - 3871
Martha Gales, widow of John Gales,
who was a pensioner under the Act of and who died on the 1 st October 1813. of Bristol in the State of R. Island who was a Pen. in the Company commanded by Captain Thorne of the Regt. commanded by Spencer in the R. I. line for 6 mo.
Inscribed on the Roll of R. Island at the rate of 20 Dollars - Cents per annum to commence on the 4th day of March, 1836.
Certificate of Pension issued the 13 th day of Aug. '39, and sent to N. Buelock, Bristol, R. I.
Arrears to the 4th of Mar. - $ 60. 00 Semi-annual allowance ending 10 00 $ 70. 00
{ Act July 7, } 1838.
Recorded by R. Burdine Clerk. Book A Vol. 2 Page 8.

Act 11381
Martha Fales widow of John R. G a
act 7 July 38
m 83-
- Emopri adm d
Emopri
20 #
no dissection
N. Bullock Bristol R. G a

State of Rhode Island &c } County of Bristol } Sc.
Clerks Office Court of Common Pleas, in and for the County and State aforesaid.
I hereby certify that Joseph M. Blake, whose signature is affixed, in his own proper hand writing to the taking of the aforesaid Depositions of Thomas Church, Nelson Miller, Joseph Munro, Ann Finney, Jonathan Fales and Abby A. Bosworth, is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County, duly commissioned under the laws of said State, and engaged therein according to Law.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court this fourteenth eighth day of August A. D. 1838.
Wm. Throop Clerk.

Declaration
In order to obtain the benefit of the act of Congress, of the 7 th July, 1838, entitled, "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;"
State of Rhode Island & Providence Plantations
County of Bristol ss -
On this first Monday of August, 1838, personally appeared before the Court of Probate now in session at Bristol, in said County of Bristol, Martha Fales, a resident of said Bristol, aged seventy six years, who, being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on her oath make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision, made by the act of Congress, passed July 7 th 1838, entitled, "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows;" That she is the widow of John Fales late of said Bristol, who was a private soldier and afterwards a sergeant in the Bristol Militia Company, commanded by Capt. William Thross during the Revolutionary war, that said John Fales was called out by the officers of said company to guard said town and work on fortifications for its defense in the month of October 1775, as soon as the British squadron, under command of Wallace had bombarded the place; that he was stationed on that occasion at Poppasquash Point, where a Barrack was immediately erected by said militia, for two or three weeks; that in the month of December 1776, the enemy landed in Newport and held it till the month of October 1779, during all which time said John Fales served as a soldier in said militia Company for half the time in standing guard at the outposts on the shore of Bristol, with the exceptions of six weeks when he was marched out of town to Tiverton in General Spencer's expedition in 1777, and three months in Sullivan's expedition when the whole of said Company as she believes were in actual service at the same time; that after the enemy left Rhode Island he was drafted and entered for six weeks service which he served out near Newport and then served for the same period as a substitute for one of his brothers at the same station on the Island; that she verily believes said John Fales served as a private soldier & sergeant during the Revolutionary war a period of more

then eighteen months; She further declares that she was married to the said John Fales on the sixth day of September in the year seventeen hundred and eighty-two, that her husband the aforesaid John Fales, died on the first day of October A.D. 1813; that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service but the marriage took place previous to the first of January, seventeen hundred and ninety four, viz, at the time above stated.
Martha Fales
Sworn to and subscribed, on the day and year above written before said Court of Probate, Attest, Wm Throop Prob. Clk.
I, Wm Throop, Clerk of the Court of Probate for the Town of Bristol, aforesaid do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the Original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Martha Fales for a pension, for the widow of John Fales her late husband, deceased in the War of the Revolution.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said Court the day and year first above mentioned
Wm Throop Prob. Clk.

I Nelson Miller of Bristol in the County of Bristol & State of Rhode Island &c. aged many eight four years on solemn oath depose & say, that I was formerly acquainted with John Fales the deceased husband of Martha Fales of said Bristol & am now well acquainted with the said Martha, I knew them both before their marriage & up to the time of his death. Said John Fales was a private soldier in the company of Bristol Militia in the time of the War of the Revolution, and I have no doubt did duty in rotation like the rest of that company in guarding the place & the neighboring shores, but as I was in the regular service a considerable part of the war I cannot state particularly his services in the militia. I saw him in Salisbury Spencer's expedition & was with him in it at Howlands ferry & other places opposite Rhode Island six weeks, he was during this expedition a private soldier in capt. William Moots' company of Bristol Militia, and I was in capt. Caleb Cram's company attached to col. Cram's regiment of State troops. While I was in Cram's regiment in 1777 stationed in Bristol, as I was during the whole of that service except during Spencer's expedition, the Bristol Militia company in which said Fales was a private, served in two divisions, the company taking turns & serving half at a time. This was while the British were in the possession of Newport & the whole of the Island of Rhode Island & frequent incursions of the enemy & the exposed situation of Bristol, made it necessary to keep up a constant guard day & night & as there were not sufficient regular troops stationed here, the militia were called out & served by turns as before stated. There were numerous guard stations kept up from Peck's rocks around the shores by Bristol Ferry to the Narrows & several were kept up in the compact part of the town. I frequently saw said Fales engaged in this duty with the other soldiers.
The said John Fales has been dead for many years. The said Martha is still living his widow.
Nelson Miller

State of Rhode Island &c Bristol ss At Bristol this 4th day of August A D 1858.
Then personally came Nelson Miller before named and subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the aforewritten deposition, before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Deponent and that he is a person of truth and veracity.
Jos. M. Blake Just of the Peace

I Joseph Munn of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island aged seventy seven years, on solemn oath depose and say, that John Fales late of said Bristol, deceased, was a soldier in the Bristol Militia Company, and served therein during a part of the Revolutionary war. In the year 1777 I belonged to Hauenstein's Regiment and served in it through Spencer's Expedition and I saw said John Fales engaged in the same service as one of the Bristol Militia Company then commanded by Capt. William Throop. This expedition as near as I can recollect occupied six weeks. The regular forces & Militia were stationed partly on Snipatuxet Heights which commanded a view of the enemy on Rhode Island and partly at Howland's Ferry and Fogland Ferry by the shore.
I was also in Sullivan's Expedition in 1778 and the said Fales was there also as a soldier and I believe belonged to the same company. That company went upon the Island by Drafts Hall at a time but they were all out in the service either at Bristol or on the Island, from the time Bristol was burnt in the latter part of May 1778 to the end of Sullivan's Expedition, a period of not less than three months, according to the best of my recollection & belief. I was also on Rhode Island in 1781 and saw said Fales there in the service as a drafted or enlisted soldier in Capt. Vial Allen's company. How long he served in Capt. Allen's company I cannot say. I found him there when I got to the camp and I left him there in the service after my month expired.
Joseph Munn.
Bristol ss At Bristol this 23 of August 1838 Then personally came Joseph Munn Munn and gave & subscribed the above written deposition and made oath to the truth of the same before me. And I also certify that said Deponent is personally known to me and is a man of truth & veracity. Jos. M. Blake Just. Peace

I Ann Finney of Bristol in the state of Rhode Island aged sixty five years on oath before, that I am a sister of Martha Fales who is the widow of John Fales late of said Bristol deceased. I also testify that I was present at the marriage of my said sister to the said John Fales. They were married by my father Josiah Finney Esq, deceased. There is no record preserved of the marriages solemnised by him, nor do I know of any family record of the marriage of my said sister. I do not recollect the exact time of her said marriage, though I perfectly recollect the fact, & the circumstances of the wedding. I was nine or ten years of age, possibly eleven years, though I think not so old.
Ann Finney
Bristol sc Bristol August 10th AD 1838. Then personally came Ann Finney above named and gave & subscribed the aforewritten deposition & made oath to the truth of the same before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent and that she is a woman of truth & veracity
Jos. N. Blake Just. Peace

I, Thomas Church of Bristol in the County of Bristol, in the State of Rhode Island aged seventy seven years on solemn oath depose and say that John Fales late of Bristol and myself were brought up in the same neighbourhood in said town from our earliest years - and both belonged to the same militia company during the Revolution and served together during the war of Independence. Capt William Throop had command of the company and Joseph Reynolds was lieutenant of it - That company took turns in standing guard during all that part of the Revolution in which the enemy were in possession of Newport say from December 1776 to October 1779 as near as I can recollect. The company were divided into two detachments or portions - Captain Throop had command of one portion and Lieutenant Reynolds of the other - and these detachments served in rotations one of them at a time standing guard at Warehousepoint, at Peck's Rocks, at the Narrows at Bristol Ferry and other exposed places about town. These stations were guarded by this militia company by day and by night for the whole time the enemy held Rhode Island - Alarms, which were frequent, (for the vessels of the enemy were in the Bay, and sometimes  several anchored in sight of our wharfe, the whole time , the whole company were out in service - and this I recollect was especially the case when Col. Campbell burnt the town - on this occasion the whole company were mustered and kept out till after Sullivan's Battle on the Island - This was in the Summer of 1778 and Capt Throop's company were in service for three full months at this time. Said Fales was a subaltern officer in the company, I think a sergeant - He was in Sullivan's expedition on R. Island, and must have served not less than eighteen months in Throop's

company while the enemy were in New- port - After the enemy evacuated Newport there was a draft from the Bristol militia com- pany to go to Newport to help defend that place as the enemy were expected to make a new attack upon that place. I was one that was drafted and so was said Gales, but he had just served out his draft, for forty days when mine commenced. I found said Gales there, but he continued there in the same service and served as a substitute for another person, I think for his elder brother Timothy - This was in the summer and Fall of 1781 - I remember said Gales was a very ath- letic stout young man and seemed to take much pride in making a soldier like ap- pearance - He died more than twenty years since and his wife Martha Gales still lives his widow - Said Gales I recollect was stationed several times, that is several terms of duty, at the Narrows which was near his father's farm, but he held also other stations, as circumstances happened and as the commanding officer of his division of the company gave orders.
Thos Church
Bristol ss At Bristol this third day of August AD 1835. Then personally came Thomas Church above named and subscribed and made solemn oath to the truth of the aforesaid deposition. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said Deponent and that he is a man of truth & veracity.
Jos. M. Blake Just. of Peace

I Jonathan Fales of Bristol, State of Rhode Island aged eighty six years, on solemn oath, depose & say, that I was a cousin of John Fales of Bristol now deceased, & intimately acquainted with him from our boyhood until his death which took place near twenty five years ago. I remember he was a member of Capt Shrop's Bristol Company of Militia in the Revolutionary War, & that he was an active soldier in that company. He took his turn as did all the other members of that company in standing guard at the different guard stations about town and throwing up breastworks & fortifications which we did at Sappoosquash Point where we mounted an eighteen pounder, at Fort Hill on Bristol Neck, at Bristol Ferry, at Warehouse Point where several cannon were mounted, at the Narrows also a strong guard was stationed for the protection of the Boats up Nickamaquet River. Fales performed guard duty at these stations during the period the English kept kept possession of Newport. The Bristol Militia maintained these guard posts themselves for between two & three years, nearly three years, while the British were in Newport, for the State Troops held their main station in the compact part of the town, and some of these posts were several miles from town. The regular Troops however, maintained one station at the hill near the Ferry, but no other out of the compact part of the town. Said John Fales took his turn in this militia service for half the time for nearly three years. In the course of which time he was in Greene's expedition & in Sullivan's also as I believe though I was not in Sullivan's expedition myself on the Island, though I was at the ferry in the public service at the time. I have no doubt that said Fales was in actual service in the Militia a year & a half, while the British were in Newport.
Jonathan Fales
Bristol sc Bristol August 3d D.B.B. Then personally came Jonathan Fales and subscribed & made oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition before me. And I further certify that I am personally acquainted with said Deponent & that he is a man of truth & veracity
Jas. M. Blake Just. Peace

I Abby F. Bosworth wife of Nathaniel Bosworth late resident of Providence but now of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island, on solemn oath depose and say, that I am now in the forty fifth year of my age, and am the daughter of John Fales and of his late wife, now widow Martha Fales and that I am the seventh child of said marriage - that my said mother has resided in my family for the last eleven years. that there is no record of her marriage nor of the births of her children that I have ever seen either in the family Bible which has been usually in my family, nor elsewhere. Abby F. Bosworth
Bristol ss At Bristol this tenth day of August A.D. 1888. Then personally came Abby F. Bosworth and gave & subscribed the aforewritten deposition & made oath to the truth of the same before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said Deponent and that she is a woman of truth & veracity. Jos. M. Dike Just. Peace

x Children of John Fales and Martha his wife Viz
Charlotte Fales born Jan y 5 th 1784. Fidelia " " Dec r 27 th 1785 Timothy " " July 23 d 1788 James G " " Oct. 10 th 1789 James G " " Jan y 20 th 1791- Betsey P. " " March 29 th 1792 Abigail S " " March 23 d - 1794 Nancy C. " " March 23 d 1796 Joseph I " " April 10 th 1798 Henry D. H. " " Feb y 8 th 1800 Martha G " " March 10 th 1802-
State of Rhode Island &c Bristol County } Se-
James Clarke's Office in Bristol in the County of Bristol and State aforesaid April 2 d 1839-
I Wm Throop James Clarke of said Town of Bristol do testify under solemn oath that the foregoing is a true copy from the Records in said Office, of the Births of the children of "John Fales and Martha his wife"- Wm Throop L. Clarke
State of Rhode Island &c Bristol sc. At Bristol this 3 d day of March A D 1839 Then personally came William Throop above named and made oath to the truth of the aforewritten statement by him sub- scribed, and I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent and that he is a man of truth and veracity Before me Jas. M. Blake J. Pease

I, William Throop of Bristol in the State of Rhode Island, on solemn oath depose, that I am Town Clerk and also clerk of Probate for said town and as such have the custody of the records of Births and marriages celebrated in said town and have also the custody of the records of the division of real estates, of persons dying intestate, among heirs at law. And I further testify that there is no record of the marriage of John Fales with Martha Fales his surviving widow, and that very few of the marriages celebrated in this town between the month of October 1775, and the month of January 1785, during which period there was no clergyman in Bristol authorized to solemnize marriages, have been recorded that during that period marriages having been solemnized before magistrates and while the then town clerk resided out of town which was the case for several years of the Revolution, is probably the reason so few marriages appear to have been recorded. - And I further testify that a numerous family of children were born of the said marriage between John Fales and his wife Martha Fales, six of whom survived their said Father, who died intestate, leaving a real estate which was legally divided among said six children and a grandchild. furthermore And I further testify that dower was duly assigned to the said Martha as the widow of said John Fales, out of said real estate.
Wm Throop
Bristol /c At Bristol this 14th day of December 1838 Then personally came William Throop and subscribed and made oath to the truth of the aforewritten deposition, before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent and that he is a man of truth & veracity
Jos. M. Blake Just. Peace

Reg 21.091 WIDOW, &c.
File No.
21.091
Martha Fales
Widow of John Fales Biv. Rev. War
Act
July 7 1838
Index: Vol.
24
Page
228
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Additional Evidence for Martha Gales

I Nelson Miller of Bristol in the County of Bristol & State of Rhode the Island, aged eighty four years, on oath depose, that I was in the Regular State service during Spencer's expedition in 1777 and saw John Fales there in that service as a member of Capt. M c Intosh's Company of Bristol Militia, as I have stated, I believe, in a former deposition, and being enquired of how long that company was occupied in that expedition, I would depose, that according to the best of my recollection, it was six weeks. I belonged to Col. Crary's Regiment, which arrived there among the first, and the Bristol Militia very soon followed. Col. Crary's Regiment was engaged in that expedition about two months and were stationed at Howland's Ferry. The Massachusetts Militia did not come in for several weeks and the forces that arrived there waited for additional Militia. Some of the remote troops did not arrive until a very few days before the expedition was abandoned. It has been always familiar to my mind, that the Militia, about here, were engaged in that expedition six weeks. I did Fales served through the whole of it.
Nelson Miller
Bristol ss At Bristol this 22 nd day of April 1839 Then personally came Nelson Miller and gave & subscribed the aforewritten deposition and made oath to the truth of the same before me. And I also certify, that I am personally acquainted with said deponent and that he is a man of truth & veracity. Jos. M c Blake, G. P.

I Ichabod Cole of Warren in the County of Bristol and State of Rhode Island, laid eighty nine years on oath depose, that I was Ensign of the Warren Militia during a part of the Revolutionary war and believe I am the only surviving commissioned officer of the Bristol County Militia who took a part in that war. I was in both Spencer's & Sullivan's expeditions. Spencer's expedition was in 1777 during the latter part of the Summer & in the Fall of that year. The Militia of this County, or a part of them, were called upon to rendezvous at Newton Four Corners. We mustered as soon as possible and repaired there. We found State troops and neighboring militia there on our arrival, I mean on the arrival of the Warren Militia. We were there a considerable time for reinforcements from the more distant militia, so that the neighboring militia were there a longer time than the more distant militia which did not arrive so early as they were expected. The Bristol Militia were there early, but I cannot tell at this distance of time, exactly how long they served. The Warren Militia must have been occupied a month in the expedition, tho' some of the distant militia were there but ten or twelve days not arriving until a few days before the expedition was abandoned.
Ichabod Cole
Bristol ss. Warren this 24th day of November 1889. Then personally came Ichabod Cole above named and gave & subscribed the aforesworn deposition & made oath to the truth of the same before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with said deponent & that he is a man of truth & veracity - Jos. M. Blake J.P.

At a Town Meeting held at Bristol on Tuesday the 25th day of April A D 1775.
Phylishub Bourn Esqr Moderator. Voted, That there be a regular watch kept in this town
Voted, That all men from the age of sixteen years to sixty shall be liable to attend upon said watch.
At a Town Meeting held at Bristol on Monday the fourth day of September A D 1775. William Bradford Esq. Moderator.
Voted, That a number of small arms be purchased by a committee to be appointed for that purpose for the use of the town.
Voted, That Dea. Howland & Major Benj n Bosworth be appointed to overhaul the cartridges that are already made, and see that they are good, and that they make a number more as they shall judge sufficient for the use of the town.
At a Town-Meeting duly warned & met at Bristol on the 12th day of December A D 1775
Nathaniel Fales Esquire, Moderator,
Voted, That some intrenchments be made near the Harbor in this town, to prevent the enemy from landing
Voted, That William Bradford Esq. Simon Potter Esq. Major Benj n Bosworth & Capt. Jeremiah Eng-raham be a committee to determine in what places, and in what manner said intrenchments are to be constructed & cause the same to be done.
At a Town-Meeting held by adjournment on Monday the 12th day of February 1776.
Phylishub Bourn Esqr Moderator.
The Town Council exhibited a list of the names of fifteen persons who they judged unable to

furnish themselves with arms agreeable to law.
At a Town-Meeting held at Bristol on Wednesday the 14th 16 th day of April A D 1777.
Pimon Potter Esq. Moderator, for said Meeting.
Voted, That the School Land & the Ministry Land be let to the highest bidder for one year, and that if the person, or persons hiring the same, shall be interrupted in the improvement of said Land by the British Troops, that there be a Committee chosen to estimate the damage they may sustain, and to make such deduction from the rent as they shall judge reasonable.
At a Town Meeting held at Bristol by adjournment on Monday the 8 th day of September A D 1777.
Daniel Bradford Esq. Moderator.
Voted, Whereas it appears by the late apportionment of a tax upon the several towns in this State, this town is overrated, considering its present cir- cumstances. It is now a garrisoned town, the buildings improved as Barracks for soldiers, the fences all consumed for fuel, and the Lands for near two miles a waste, many of the buildings totally ruined and destroyed, the inhabitants moved out, many of them into other Governments, with their estates, and the exposed situation of the town, to be annoyed by the common enemy every hour, the farms can't be improved to any advantage,
It is therefore Voted, that a Petition be prefer- red by the Freemen to the General Assembly for relief in the premises, and that Messrs Sherjash- ub Bourn, Daniel Bradford and Benjamin Bosworth be a Committee to draw it up in order to be forwarded.

State of Rhode Island &c } County of Bristol } Sc.
Town Clerk's Office in Bristol in the County and State aforesaid April 24th A. D. 1839.
I, Wm Throop Town Clerk of said Town of Bristol, under solemn oath depose, that the preceding two pages, purporting to be Town meeting proceedings in said Bristol in the years 1775, 1776 & 1777, are true copies, from the Re- cords in this Office
Wm Throop Town Clerk
Bristol sc At Bristol this 24th day of April A D 1839 Then personally came William Throop above named and made oath to the truth of the aforewritten statement by him subscribed, Before me. And I also certify that I am personally acquainted with the said Deponent and that he is a man of truth & veracity, and that he is the Town clerk of said town of Bristol, duly qualified to act as such.
Joseph M. Blake Just. Peace
State of Rhode Island &c } County of Bristol } Sc.
Clerk's Office Court of Common Pleas, in the County and State aforesaid.
I certify that Joseph M. Blake, whose signature is af- fixed to the taking of the foregoing Depositions of Wm Throop, Nelson Miller, and Ichabod Cole, is a Justice of the Peace, in and for said County, duly com- missioned under the seal of said State, and engaged there according to Law.
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court this twenty third day of April. A. D. 1839.
Wm Throop Clerk

I Jonathan Reynolds of Bristol in the county of Bristol and State of Rhode Island aged seventy six years, on oath depose, that I was born and have ever lived in said Bristol, and was a soldier in Capt. William Throop's company of Bristol Militia during a part of the war of the revolution. Owing to the very exposed situation of the place, guards were kept by said Militia at various stations on the shores of the town, while the enemy were in the possession of Newport. One of these guard stations was at the Narrows, so called, in the North East part of the town. A guard was kept up at this station all the time the enemy held Newport. I took my station there as a private in Capt. Throop's company on the last of January 1779 and I continued to duty there, half the time, until the last of October of the same year when orders came to leave the station discontinued. John Fales, deceased, who was the husband of the present widow Martha Fales, was also a private in said company & served as such at said station during said period from the last of January to the last of October 1779, and I believe he served at said station before I did but I cannot say positively. He was older than I and was a member of the Bristol Militia & did duty therein before I joined it. My Brother, Joseph Reynolds, deceased, was the lieutenant of said company, and had command of the station at the Narrows during the period aforesaid. Said Fales & I did not stand guard all the time, but we did as the rest of the company did at that & the other guard stations in town, that is, take turns & each serve half the time. This station was a mile from said Fales's home and about two miles from

my home. The duty of the soldiers at the Narrows was to guard the shores. A watch was always kept through the night, and we walked the shores nearly to Bristol Ferry where there was another station. Said Fales was also in Spencer & Sullivan's expeditions, I believe, but I cannot say positively as I was in neither of those expeditions myself. Jonathan Reynolds
Bristol ss. At Bristol this 28 27th day of April A.D. 1839. Then personally came Jonathan Reynolds and gave & subscribed the aforewritten deposition and made oath to the truth of the same. And I also certify that said deponent is personally known to me and that he is a man of truth & veracity - Before me -
Jos. M. Blake Just. Peace
State of Rhode Island ss. County of Bristol
ss. Clerk's Office, Court
of Common Pleas, County aforesaid
April
29th A.D. 1839 - I certify that Joseph M. Blake
whose signature is affixed in his own proper hand
writing to the taking of the foregoing Deposition of
Jonathan Reynolds is a Justice of the Peace in and for said County
duly commissioned under the seal of said State, and engaged therein
according to Law. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand
and affixed the seal of said Court the day and year aforesaid.
Wm. Throop Clerk.

J. L. Edwards, Esquire, Commissioner of pensions Washington

Bristol, April 29 th 1839
Sir,
I herewith transmit two depositions to establish the fact that Lydia Bunn still remains the widow of Nathaniel Bunn, as required by yours of 18 th instant.
In the case of Martha Fales, widow of John Fales, I also transmit the evidence of our town clerk to prove there is no record of their marriage, and from the same source, furnish the next best evidence such a case admits of the fact of the marriage, and that it must have taken place, before January 1794, in the record of the issue of that marriage, and proof that down was assigned the applicant, out of John Fales' estate, and the division of the estate among their children. As respects the period of John Fales' service, I would refer to the depositions of Joseph Munro and Nelson Miller already on your files, and to those of Mr. Miller & Ichabod Gole now sent, from which, it is established that the Bristol militia were occupied in 1777, on Skenne's expedition, upon the best calculations that can be made, founded on recollection, six weeks. No one of that militia, I believe, has ever called that term of service leg. The Bristol militia were kept in a manner embodied, before that expedition was concerted, and were marched to the place of rendezvous, on the first notice, while the more remote militia had to be drafted, and many of the Massachusetts forces did not arrive, at Camp, till just as the enterprise of taking possession of the Island was abandoned. Such is the united testimony of all the Bristol militia, who have been examined upon this subject and many of them are among our most respectable citizens. John Fales served through that expedition. It is also in evidence that he served, as one of the same militia, in Bristol from the destruction of the town, on May 25 th 1778, till the battle on the Island, under Sullivan, August 28 th of same year, a period of three months. There is also substantial

proof, as it appears to me, that John Fales served two months, near Newport, in 1781, one month, upon his own draft and one, as a substitute for his brother probably, as testified by Mr. Church, who thinks these drafts were for 40 days, respectively.
Concerning Mr. Fales' guard service, upon which much of his widow's claim is based, I must be permitted to remark, that if he were now himself alive, and in full possession of the best memory that ever belonged to an Octogenarian, it would be impossible for him, to detail, with exactitude, the precise periods or length of time, by weeks and days, he was stationed, at this or that point, where guards were kept up, by the Bristol militia, for nearly three years of the war. Much less, can such precision be expected of his widow, or even other witnesses. If any fact, however, has been established, beyond the possibility of doubt, it is the fact, that the militia company of Bristol, at first under the command of Capt. Ingraham, and soon, under the command of Capt. W. Throop, manned and guarded a number of guard posts, from December 1776 to the month of October 1779, that for this purpose, the members of that company served in two divisions, each half the time. It may be said, these men, while thus engaged, were merely defending their own farms, families and firesides, but this was defending a portion, and one of the most exposed portions of the common country, as is obvious, from the plunder and depredations committed upon it, notwithstanding, all the efforts made for its protection. These guards drew their rations and supplies from the stores of the commissary, in the same manner, as the State Troops, as proved by Mr. Smith who officiated the commissary, and as further evidence of the necessity of such a guard and the extreme danger of the town, I herein transmit, a record of the proceedings of the freemen in town meetings assembled, from April 1775, to Sept. 1779, to which I beg to refer your particular attention.
These remarks and the votes of the town apply not only to the case of Mr. Fales, but also to those of Mr. Waldo and Mr. Lincumb, all widows, and the two last utterly destitute of property

Are not their claims as just, for services actually rendered, by their respective husbands, as soldiers of the militia, at guard posts in Bristol as they would have been, had the like services been rendered, in the field? They were occupied as soldiers half the time, by such alternations, as rendered the other half of but little value to them. And tho' it is impossible to prove, after such a lapse of time, the precise period, either of them served, at one or another of the stations, in question, yet as it is distinctly proved, they did serve, in the aggregate, at those stations, one half the time, from a given period of one year to a given period of another, it is with deference, apprehended, justice and no more than justice, may be done to these aged matrons, without violating the letter or the spirit of the law enacted for the benefit of such persons.
I forward from the Secretary's office, a copy of the proceedings of the Assembly. Pages 1 & 2 will shew the efforts made to defend our extended shores, at the first stages of the war. On Page 5, under the head of October Session 1779, it will be seen, that the militia guards were first dismissed, by order of the assembly, Newport having been evacuated by the enemy. On Page 4, it will appear, Vial Allen was appointed a Lieutenant to Moses Turner's company of State Troops, and on Page 5, he appears to have been appointed Captain of the Barrington militia; by Page 6, it appears that a Regiment of 610 men were to be raised for six months, of which Bristol was to raise 13, that she did raise her quota, is evident from her not being returned, among the deficient towns, mentioned on Page 7. This was in 1780, when we alledge Waldron & Leicomb enlisted for 6 months and served, as the witnesses believe, under Vial Allen - At February Session 1781, Page 7, an act was passed to embody a part of the militia, and 1200 men were to be embodied out of the militia & by 4 th March for one month, and Vial Allen was to have the command of one of the companies; at July Session following, it appears, 500 of the militia were still kept upon R. Island, this corresponds with the deposition of John Fales who testifies John Fales served two months, partly on his own draft, and partly as a substitute - I have been prolix, I fear tediously so, but my object has been to facilitate your investigation. Very Respectfully, your obed. serv t . J. L. Edwards Com. Pensions. N. Bullock